Kate Winslet says crew on Goodbye June were underpaid because she couldn’t get the budget due to being a female director as she hits out at industry sexism

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Kate Winslet explained that some of the crew working on her first film as a director, Goodbye June, didn’t receive full pay because the movie’s budget was limited.

As a longtime admirer of her work, I was really struck by what Kate Winslet recently shared about her experience directing ‘Goodbye June’. She explained that, as a woman in the film industry, she had to rely on personal connections to actually get the movie made. It’s frustrating to hear that investors weren’t willing to take a chance on her vision simply because of her gender. It really highlights the challenges female directors still face, even someone as accomplished as Kate.

To work on the movie, some crew members agreed to lower their usual weekly pay.

Kate discussed on the Kermode & Mayo’s Take podcast that women in film often have to rely on networking and personal favors to get projects made. She explained that for a low-budget film like ‘Goodbye June,’ this might mean asking crew members to work for less than their usual pay.

I’m referring to the department leaders and their teams. Occasionally, people will adjust their schedules or make sacrifices to be involved and show their support, and we definitely saw that happen with the ‘Goodbye June’ project.

She explained that when actresses become directors, they often face underestimation and skepticism about their abilities. People tend to automatically assume male directors are competent, while female directors have to prove themselves first.

Kate pointed out a common belief that men are naturally expected to be competent, a standard not typically applied to women.

That’s incorrect and unfair. It will make it more difficult for us to produce films and secure the necessary funding to do so.

She went on to say that she believes there’s a unique challenge for women, particularly actresses who become directors.

People often assume you’re a bit self-absorbed and prefer to isolate yourself, and they question whether you’re truly capable of succeeding.

Kate pointed out that she believes a different way of speaking is often used when talking to female directors compared to male directors.

The way we talk to actresses who transition into directing differs from how we talk to male actors who do the same.

It’s interesting how male actors often transition into directing without much scrutiny – and there are so many talented young male directors emerging, which is fantastic. They seem to be given the space to pursue that path without facing the same level of questioning or attention.

I’m so excited to share that Kate has stepped into a new role – director! She recently made her directorial debut with a heartwarming family drama on Netflix. It’s a fantastic new chapter for her, and I can’t wait for everyone to see her vision come to life.

The film follows four siblings gathering together to support their mother as her health declines. 

Helen Mirren stars as June, with Timothy Spall playing her husband, Bernie. Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough, and Johnny Flynn round out the cast as their children.

Working on this project really brought things up for me, personally. It reminded me of my own mother, Sally Bridges-Winslet, who sadly passed away from ovarian cancer back in 2017. It was a tough but important connection to acknowledge throughout the process.

Her 21-year-old son, Joe Anders, wrote the screenplay for the movie, which became available on the streaming service last week.

The change was a big adjustment for Kate, pushing her beyond what she was used to, but she kept her concerns to herself, especially her tiredness, and didn’t share them with her colleagues, including Helen Mirren.

She told Grazia magazine that the most challenging part of the process was setting aside her own worries so the actors wouldn’t sense them.

I had to stay positive and lead the way each day, no matter how tired or stressed I was about money.

The actress, known for her role in Titanic, also noted she was aware of facing different challenges as a woman working behind the camera compared to her male colleagues.

She pointed out that when male actors become directors, it’s generally met with curiosity, but when women do, they often face skepticism and are expected to prove themselves.

Despite the pressures behind the screen, Kate said she would ‘really, really love to direct again’. 

Elsewhere Kate attended a Q&A for her movie where she revealed the advice she swears by.

‘What was your best director note for you, the actor, playing Julia?’ she was asked at one point.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the video John Pascarella got – she was so direct! Someone asked her something, and she just replied, ‘Don’t mess it up!’ It got a huge laugh from everyone, and then she joked that it’s basically what she tells herself all the time. It was so relatable and funny!

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2025-12-18 18:36